According To Aldous Huxley, How Do You Arrive At Visionary Experiences?

Aldous Huxley was the author of the famous novel  Brave New World.  He was also a somewhat strange and restless man who was fascinated by so-called “altered states of consciousness” or “visionary experiences.” Huxley accessed these experiences in many different ways.

He made a huge spiritual quest. Ultimately, this caused him to become a mystic. In 1953, Huxley read about the use of mescaline in the treatment of schizophrenia. Under the supervision of Dr. Humphry Osmond decided to try mescaline and other psychedelic drugs. In this article, we step into Aldous Huxley’s world of visionary experiences.

He wrote two very interesting essays based on his life experiences. First he wrote  The Doors of Perception  and later  Heaven and Hell. In these treatises, he describes in detail his journey through his visionary experiences. They also clarify the means by which we can access visionary experiences. We give an overview here.

1. Fasting, a way to induce visionary experiences

Fasting is a widespread practice all over the world. Many religions recommend and practice fasting as a means of having mystical experiences. Food abstinence triggers a full chain of effects in the body. This ultimately changes the way the brain works.

Religions refer to fasting as a way to purify the body and mind. Huxley points out that it is also a mechanism for generating visionary experiences. When we stop eating for a period of time, it is very common for us to experience visions and special emotional states. Not infrequently we also see how happiness merges with sadness.

2. Jewels and Crystals

Many visions spoken of by religions and various philosophies also have to do with jewels and crystals. Gold and precious stones are images that appear over and over in mystical visions. This is independent of their market value. If jewels are not present, they speak of crystals.

According to Huxley, this is because jewelry and crystals radiate light. They shine and create flashes. This author claims that the attentive and silent contemplation of jewels produces visionary experiences. They actually reveal images of one’s own being.

3. Darkness and Confinement

Aldous Huxley said that being in a place where there are no sensory stimuli induces visionary experiences. You then begin to “see” and “hear” many things that you would not have access to if you were in your normal state of consciousness. In Buddhism, such practices are very common.

Science has proven Aldous Huxley’s theory. In addition, researchers have found that spending a lot of time in darkness releases a significant amount of hormones in the brain.

These then cause the activation of various neurotransmitters. After about three weeks, the brain produces DMT. This is a molecule that we also find in psychedelic drugs.

4. Concentrating on works of art

Another way to arrive at visionary experiences is to see works of art in a slow way. Paintings and religious architectural works in particular can help with this. Huxley argued that many of these works of art were the fruit of visionary experiences.

According to him, that was also the reason that they make the ascent to new states of consciousness easier.

Huxley even compiled a list of artists who best convey visionary experiences through their work. That list included Andrea del Castagno, Caravaggio, Goya, Rembrandt, Georges de la Tour, William Blake and Fra Angelico.

He also mentioned Zen art. Moreover, he pointed out that the poetry and music of Sufism can also induce other states of consciousness.

5. Fireworks

People haven’t designed fireworks just for fun. At first, fireworks were considered a magical and exhilarating experience. Fireworks had an effect on the people who watched them. Watching fireworks carefully and discovering figures in the sky can become a visionary experience.

The same goes for rich or luxurious objects such as powerful sculptures, silks, velvets and ornate clothing. According to Huxley, contact with these objects induces revealing visions that can manifest immediately or later while we sleep.

Mystical experiences transcend the field of psychology. Actually, they are rather spiritual. They are a phenomenon that science has already studied. Yet there is still much to discover about visionary experiences.

Featured images courtesy of J. Robinson.